Blog Archives

Like Groundhog Day: Activities You Can Enjoy Over and Over Again

1/30/2015

In honor of Groundhog Day, here are some activities that repeat regularly on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

While we don’t have groundhogs in Orange County, we still watch to see if Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter, and some people have made it a tradition to watch the movie Groundhog Day every year to commemorate the holiday. The combination of these two American culture references have coined the phrase “like Groundhog Day” to mean something that you know is going to happen because it has happened before, over and over.

Repeating the past eventually worked out in the movie, and predictability isn’t always such a bad thing. For instance, when it comes to finding time for recreation or volunteer activities, knowing that an opportunity comes around regularly can make it easier to fit it into your schedule.

Volunteer Event Combines Trail Work and Orange County History

1/23/2015

Come out and help repair a remote trail, and visit a rarely-seen historic monument.

“Under This Tree General Andres Pico Hung Two Banditos of the Flores Gang in 1857.”

There is very little embellishment on the Hangman’s Monument in Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Just a simple plaque with this statement set into a small rock pedestal. It was installed by a group of equestrians in 1967, when the trail was part of a working ranch. Today, the monument is challenging to get to on foot, but an upcoming volunteer activity will drop visitors just a short walk away from this piece of Orange County history.

Morning Hikes on the Landmarks

1/16/2015

There are morning hikes almost every day next week designed to connect hikers and runners to the land and trails of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmark at a time of day ideal for being active outdoors.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “the early bird catches the worm.” What this old English proverb has come to mean is that those who take advantage of active and productive mornings are going to find success in life. With this in mind, you might want to consider registering for one of several upcoming morning activities next week and find your proverbial “worm.”

Crisp Winter Air Brings Fantastic Vistas to the Landmarks

1/9/2015

Clean, clear winter air makes it easy to enjoy panoramas of Orange County and beyond from the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

The shorter, cooler days of the winter season make it a perfect time to enjoy the vibrant colors of the canyons and sprawling vistas in the open space preserves of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. While standing on a peak or ridge, visitors might look one way and see the snow-capped peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains, then turn around and clearly see out to one of Southern California’s Channel Islands.

Update: Agua Chinon Habitat Restoration

1/2/2015

The project is entering its second year, with many signs of progress.

One of the biggest challenges for any habitat restoration project in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is access to water. While some projects benefit from leftover cattle trough water lines from the area’s ranching days, other projects need to rely on more creative methods. In the Agua Chinon area of OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon, a nearby municipal water source has made access to water possible, improving the success rate of a 30-acre habitat restoration project.

However, as visitors to Agua Chinon have noticed, bringing that water from the tank to the plants involves a thick main irrigation line running along the trail, with several smaller lines going off into the planting areas. Not the most natural sight to see, but a true sign of the rehabilitation that continues in this wildlife habitat. Currently the majority of the work is being done in a 17-acre mitigation area funded by OC Waste & Recycling and managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy. As the project enters its second year, the regular irrigation has meant steady progress in returning this watershed back to a more native environment.

Avoiding Damage to Wet Trails

1/2/2015

Southern California is expected to see increased rain this winter, which will have a dramatic effect on local trails. While the flora and fauna need the rain, California’s record drought has left trail surfaces too dry to handle an abundance of rainfall. Even trails constructed to direct runoff into surrounding habitat will be overwhelmed by sudden rain after such a dry spell.

Landowners and managers are at the ready, prepared to evaluate potential storm damage and reduce long-term effects. However, trail users can help make sure rain damage is minimized by understanding wet trail conditions and abiding by closures to the trail system.

Winter Bird Migration in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

1/2/2015

Winter is a great time to see a variety of birds as they return to Southern California for nesting season.

Did you know that hundreds of bird species are migrating to and through Orange County throughout the year, and that the winter migration period is an especially good time to see a variety of birds in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks as they make their way south along the Pacific Flyway Migration that spans the west coast of the Americas?

These regular seasonal movements of bird populations, known as migrations, are in response to changing weather as well as availability of food and nesting locations. Most bird species travel south in the winter in search of more temperate climates.

Like Groundhog Day: Activities You Can Enjoy Over and Over Again

Volunteer Event Combines Trail Work and Orange County History

Morning Hikes on the Landmarks

Crisp Winter Air Brings Fantastic Vistas to the Landmarks

Update: Agua Chinon Habitat Restoration

Avoiding Damage to Wet Trails

Winter Bird Migration in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

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